Queensland is looking more and more like a country and western film following the return of criminal motorcycle gangs and revelations of a gun-toting Police Minister Bill Byrne.
Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said Minister Byrne’s admission that he had fired weapons in his own home, and his continued backing from the Premier herself, would only leave Queenslanders wondering if the Palaszczuk Labor Government condoned outlaw behaviour.
“This is Queensland, not the Wild West, and the Premier’s comments over the weekend that is was legal for people in urban areas to discharge their firearms in their own homes were clueless and reckless,” Mr Springborg.
“The hundreds of thousands of licensed shooters know this is illegal, why doesn’t the Premier know that this Minister is in breach of laws he is responsible for administering?
“The Premier’s comments over the weekend were totally inappropriate and sounded far from those of someone tasked with running the state.
“With a government like this at the helm, it’s no wonder criminal motorcycle gangs are making their way back to Queensland in droves, but the Premier continues with her reckless plan to water-down the LNP’s tough-on-crime laws to keep them out of our state.
“This is further evidence of a clueless government with no plan that is putting Queenslanders’ safety at risk.”
Mr Springborg called on the Premier to stand down the Police Minister pending a full investigation into the allegations.
“This is the same man responsible for ensuring Queensland is a safe place to live, work and raise a family, but his behaviour is far from fitting for a Minister of the Crown,” he said.
“Instead of her typical know-nothing, do-nothing response, the Premier should act and stand down her Minister and send Queenslanders a message that this kind of conduct is not acceptable.”
